Shanghai is buzzing with activity. There’s nothing unusual about that. Its always buzzing with activity. But this time its buzzing with architectural activity. Countries from around the world have built-and are building- pavilions for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. These pavilions give architectural expression to each nation’s character, history, aesthetic, and aspirations These are buildings that act as billboards and perform like salesmen. But that doesn’t make them bad…necessarily. In most cases, the lack of ‘function’ liberated the architects to explore ideas not normally possible with a more pragmatic client. The results are not always successful, but the failures are spectacular for their audacity.